CNN BREAKING NEWS

Stand Off With Marshall Impersonator Continues

Aired August 31, 2001 - 14:01 ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news from California, where authorities are engaged in a stand off with an armed man. One sheriff's deputy has been shot and is in serious condition. Officers were attempting to arrest a man when he opened fire.

Joining us now from Santa Clarita, that's just about 25 miles north of Los Angeles, CNN's Hena Cuevas with more about it.

HENA CUEVAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Natalie, this is what we know so far.

Apparently this morning, federal ATF agents came by, to the suspect's home, and served a warrant, a search warrant. We don't know what kind of warrant and what it was for. That's when they say the shooting started. And as you mentioned before, we understand that one deputy sheriff has been shot. In about 50 minutes there's going to be a press conference updating on the sheriff's condition.

The sheriff's department also held a press conference a few minutes ago to let us know exactly what the condition is of the operation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KEN DAVIDSON, L.A. COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT.: This morning ATF agents were serving a federal search warrant, is the information I received, at a location up the street here. At the time that it happened, a shootout began between agents and the suspect inside the home. Deputy personnel from Santa Clarita Station responded. And during the exchange of the gunfire, a deputy was shot. He has been transported to an area hospital. His condition is unknown at this time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CUEVAS: That was Ken Davidson from the L.A. County Sheriff's Department. We were able to speak to one of the suspect's neighbors. The neighbor said he lives across the street from him. The only thing he was able to tell us was that apparently he was a good neighbor, 36- year-old, had said he was a marshal.

And they said a few days before, investigators had been in the neighborhood asking them general questions about the neighbor. So, that's as much as we have. Back to you, Natalie. ALLEN: Hena, are authorities saying why they went to this home to search it?

CUEVAS: So far there is no information about why they were serving the search warrant. What the sheriff's department has told us is that information that's supposed to come from the ATF. The only thing they were able to tell us is apparently the suspect has numerous weapons in his house, and he has been using them. At one point even shooting at the helicopter that was taking the deputy sheriff to the hospital.

ALLEN: All right. We will stay in close contact with you for more on this story out of Santa Clarita. Thank you.

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